For
the first time in 30 years, this Pittsburgh girl became a football
fan again. Living near Seattle, when the Steelers played the Seahawks
in the 2006 Super Bowl, only made it that much more fun.

Digging through
my closet for some black and gold to wear into a sea of blue
and
green,
I started
thinking
about the similarities between football and business.

Like football, running a business has the never-ending ability
to surprise and amaze. Businesses can putz around for decades between
truly phenomenal seasons. Starting players, like CEOs, continue
to
reinvent themselves: Look at Terry Bradshaw and Frank Gifford.

Customers' allegiances to businesses/teams can be totally fickle…and
brand loyalty completely illogical. Ongoing top-notch advertising
reminds them of why your team is the best of the bunch.

Teamwork is the name of the game. You need to have both a strong
offensive and defensive line. Brute strength may be envied, but
it's
the wily little quarterback who could ultimately win the game for
you.
Superstars are great, but don't ignore the guys on the bench.
They are your future.

A great team needs a phenomenal coach. The team and coaches have
to maintain enthusiasm and passion for what they do. Aggression
and ambition spur them on, as they focus in on that vision given
to them
by the owners.

Some players are being paid a lot more than they're really
worth. High turnover can be a pain in your wallet. You're looking
for the best talent. What does your team have to offer a top-performing
player? How can you best position yourself for team success through
the upcoming years?

Business isn't usually a bloody battle. Competition is the
name of the game. Besides, if you killed off all of the other teams,
who would you have to play with?

Know your opponents, study their plays. Keep an eye on the other
teams' standings. What games are you confident you can win?
Which ones are iffy? Look at your own history. How can you improve
your team's play?

Having pretty girls on the sidelines never hurts. Face it: Sex
sells.

You need to measure more than just the final score. The game is
often won by the team that made the fewest mistakes. Does a team
member
need to pass more? Or is controlling the number of fumbles your
key to success?

The most important play is the next play. Sometimes it's a
game of feet, not yards. It takes a bunch of small successes to make
the goal. And then, sometimes you just have to punt. Taking a calculated
risk often wins the game.

Your team has to turn a profit. If you're successful at what
you do, you will make money. Controlling finances is key to longevity.

Play by the rules or you will get burned. But, realize now that
some calls just aren't fair—and an injury can sideline the
best of us. Have good medical insurance.

Anyone who is anybody can (and will) tell you how you should have
made that last play. Pay attention to the folks with a proven track
record. Think twice before listening to a loser.

The game's not over until that final buzzer. You can't
wimp out midstream. There may be lots of ups and downs through the
quarters…or years.

Do you have what it takes to win this year's Super Bowl? If
not, what will it take to position your team to win in 2010? Strategic
planning begins now.